Don't Be Such a Spaz! Social Media Tips and Tricks Dr. Sheryl R. Abshire, Chief Technology Officer Kim Leblanc, Tech Training Center Coordinator Pam Nicholson, Technology Facilitator Louisiana Association of School Business Officials 2013 Spring Conference Lake Charles, Louisiana

What is Social Media? Any website that enables users to create public profiles and form relationships with other users. Interpreted from:

Social Networking Studies Social networking sites are increasingly used to keep up with close social ties. The average user of a social networking site has more close ties and is half as likely to be socially isolated as the average American. Facebook users are more trusting than others. ( - The definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation.)

Misinformation…..

Facebook users are much more politically engaged than most people. Facebook revives “dormant” relationships. Social Networking Studies

What role should social media have in education, specifically K-12? Many teachers want social networking websites accessible to students because they can provide tools for teaching in a way that engages and captivates young minds. Others argue that social networking websites compromise safety, are disruptive, and could even be a liability for schools.

Social Media Policies - Three Audiences Public/Parents-how the district wishes to use social media to communicate Staff-how the district wishes to use social media to communicate and educate Students-how the district wishes to use social media to educate

The websites that the district builds provides the School Board a medium to publicize its official position on issues related to the schools such as school building projects, proposed school budgets and public policies affecting the schools. The website is an outlet for the official message of the school and is not a forum for dissemination of other views. The content of the web site shall remain in the exclusive control of the school, its school board and designated agents. Suggested Policy

Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act CIPA Update 7/1/12 schools must amend their existing Internet safety policy to provide for the education of minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking sites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response Internet safety policy must also include “monitoring” the online activities of minors Schools “may” need to update their AUP on social media and education of students Great resource:

Creating a school Facebook page sounds like a good idea, but.... Mansfield ISD, Texas... MISD recently decided to shut down its Facebook page after spending nearly two years building a following of some 7,000 "friends," others using or interested in using social media in their communications programs took notice. Why? shut down its Facebook page District said the site's commenting feature was causing disruptions and making MISD a liable participant "in issues related to sharing of private student information, defamation of employees and other abusive online behavior.“ abusive online behavior Bottom line: the district was not willing or able to commit the staff resources required to adequately monitor and moderate the incoming content. Video link: school-district-shuts-down-facebook-pagehttp:// school-district-shuts-down-facebook-page

Inappropriate and It’s Online? 2006, the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against the Hermitage School District in Pennsylvania after the district suspended student Justin Layshock for creating an unflattering online parody of his principal. 2007, a federal judge determined that the suspension was unconstitutional, and in 2010, a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the district violated the student’s First Amendment rights. Schools must consider the rights of students to freedom of expression. Teachers mistakenly think they too have carte blanche First Amendment rights when it comes to their use of the Internet and social media. That is not the case. Teacher speech is more likely to be protected if it’s about matters of public interest, but there is a nexus between teachers’ private speech and their employment at school. Private speech should not unduly disrupt school activities.

Security Misuse of District Technology IT Drain Productivity Concerns Affecting Staff Social Media Use

This debate is so strong… This past July Missouri passed a law which restricts private online communication between teachers and students. The law has been challenged and blocked in court... For now. 16/Real_Risk_of_Missouri_Social_Media_Law_is_Over-Zealous_Enforcement.aspxhttp:// 16/Real_Risk_of_Missouri_Social_Media_Law_is_Over-Zealous_Enforcement.aspx

Louisiana Clamps Down on Electronic Communication Between Teachers and Students Louisiana House Bill 570 Requires city/parish/local public school board to develop and implement policy regarding electronic communications between employee at a school to a student at that school. Definition must include wide range of means.

LA Law (2009) cont’d Policy must: Require that all electronic communications by employee to student at same school relative to the educational services provided to the student use a means provided/made available by the school system; Prohibit use of that system to communicate with student for purpose not related to education services except with immediate family member if authorized by school board policy; Specify that the occurrence of any electronic communication by employee to student at same school or vice versa using means other than school’s shall be reported by the employee; Specify that failure to comply may constitute willful neglect of duty; Provides immunity to school board and individual members for any electronic communication by an employee to a student that is prohibited by the law.

Calcasieu Parish School Board Policy Employees must report, at the first opportunity available, any student-initiated communication that may be construed as inappropriate.

The landmark Pickering v. Board of Education case tested the first amendment rights of public employees when they involve a subject matter of their employment. Young teachers have grown up in the cyber age and often do not recognize the boundaries between work and play that their more mature peers observed. Boundaries are more easily violated with social networking technology. What was once private is now very public. Inappropriate Communication

Inappropriate Communication With Students A high school English teacher was suspended for blogging about comments she wanted to make on student report cards. Some comments included “Nowhere near as good as her sibling. Are you sure they’re related?” and “Weirdest kid I’ve ever met.” Unfortunately for her, students and parents shared her blog on Facebook and Twitter, causing a stir that led to her suspension.

Case Study: Richerson v. Beckon (9th Cir. 2009) The landmark decision - Pickering v. Board of Education Part time curriculum specialist and part time instructional coach for teachers posted blog entries on publicly available blog Criticized co-worker and referred to co-worker as “white boy” Said she wanted to draw “a little Hitler mustache” on the union representative’s face Employee’s blog entries were not protected speech Personal attacks – not matters of public concern Undermined the employee’s ability to complete her job Speech would likely "disrupt co-worker relations, erode a close working relationship premised on personal loyalty and confidentiality, and interfere with her performance of her duties"

Teacher Boundary Issues On January 22, 2010, MSNBC reported that a Brownsville, Pennsylvania high school teacher was suspended for 30 days without pay for pictures of the teacher with a stripper posted on Facebook The pictures were taken while the teacher attended a bridal shower for a friend The pictures included the teacher, fully clothed, in the same frame as the stripper; the teacher was not posing or acting inappropriately The pictures were posted by a third party—not by the teacher The ACLU has gone on record as supporting the teacher, although no lawsuit has been filed

Use District Resources

District Resources (cont.)

Creative Development Social networking sites allow for creative expression in a new medium. They provide free messaging, blogging, photo storage, games, event invitations, and many other services to anyone with access to a computer and the Internet.

Effects of Facebook According to studies, middle school, high school and college students looking at Facebook at least one time during a 15- minute study break made lower grades. In addition, many young Facebook users show more tendencies to be narcissistic.

Have and Have Not's Social media helps low-income kids become more familiar with computers and related technology. One study showed that nearly three quarters of children from poor households have profiles on Facebook or other social media sites. By using these websites, they have learned how to edit and upload photos and videos, and have become experienced in using html code to personalize their profile pages.

Peer Support In one study students report that one of the most common topics of conversation on the social networking scene is education. Almost 60 percent of students who use social networking talk about education topics online and, surprisingly, more than 50 percent talk specifically about schoolwork.

Digital Tattoos Teens growing up with these sites may not be aware that the information they post is public and that photos and text can be retrieved even after deletion. Consequences from over-sharing personal information include vulnerability to sexual or financial predators and lost job opportunities from employers finding embarrassing photos or comments.

Always contact Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to report fake accounts, spam, and inappropriate comments. Write disclaimers and guidelines for use and post them on your Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages. Link to your disclaimers and guidelines from your website home page. Conduct a public presentation about how your district is using social media. Preferably, conduct the presentation at a public event, like a school board meeting, and televise it district-wide. Turn off comments on both your YouTube channel and on each video you post on the channel. Best Practices

Create a Facebook FAN site for the district/ Link to districts official website Allow only Fans/no comments Keep updated and fresh! Also create a Twitter feed-again keep updated and fresh Be thoughtful of posting proprietary, copyrighted, defamatory, libelous or obscene Never post information about students – all student information is considered private and confidential Best Practices

Social Media Strategies Know and review district guidelines. Create an official site for your school or district and building. Keep your personal business private. Recognize that as public employees, you always represent your school or district. Avoid participating in the cutesy, sometimes raunchy online surveys and other gimmicks that social media sites use to generate traffic.

Social Media Strategies Don’t connect personally with students. Recognize that the parents of your students are your partners in the educational process, not your “friends.” Use group sites or pages to connect with students and parents for educational purposes, such as homework help or assignments. Group pages should not give access to teachers’ personal and private information and accounts. Don’t post student photos on group pages without parental permission, and don’t post student photos on personal pages.

Social Media Strategies Digital content lives in perpetuity online. You will be held accountable for what you post. Avoid anonymous or misleading postings and comments. Learn how to use social media and networking sites wisely and well.

In developing a policy, school leaders should answer the following questions: How can schools clearly define legitimate school business that can be conducted between teachers and students on school-based sites and social media? What are appropriate physical and emotional boundaries that staff should observe with students? How can staff avoid misusing social media in the conduct of their professional interaction with students? How can staff keep their private speech separate from their interactions with students on private and school-based sites, including texting and cell phones? How can educators avoid putting a chilling effect on the use of social media as a learning and communication tool? Developing a Solid Foundation

Transparent—maintain openness, visibility and accountability Accessible—consider all electronic communication to be a matter of record Professional—use correct grammar and tone, choose appropriate subject matter and choose words that are courteous TAP

References & Resources P101/Facebook.pdf P101/Facebook.pdf social-networking-pros-and-cons/ social-networking-pros-and-cons/ 2/research_paper_tcs_701.pdf 2/research_paper_tcs_701.pdf

Sample Policies /FrontPage /FrontPage scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid= scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid= ult.htm ult.htm guidelines-school guidelines-school

Contact Information Calcasieu Parish School Board Dr. Sheryl R. Abshire, Chief Technology Officer Kim Leblanc, Tech Training Center Coordinator Pam Nicholson, Technology Facilitator